Lot 247: Virginia 1830 Needlework Sampler by Maria Broun

Virginia schoolgirl needlework embroidered sampler, silk on linen, stitched by Maria Broun of Middleburg, Virginia, in 1830. The sampler features three upper and lower case alphabets and a row of vowels over a row of numbers, executed in six distinctive types of stitches (cross, flame, queen, eyelet, basic/Algerian eyelet, herringbone) in various colored threads, over a final row stitched “Maria Broun Aged 10.” Unframed. 16 1/2 in. H x 8 1/2 in. W.  Note: Maria Broun (1820-1886) was the firstborn child of Edwin Conway Broun (1781-1839) and his second wife, Elizabeth Channel (1802-1838) of Middleburg in Loudon County, VA, who married in 1819. Maria was born the following year and may have been named for Edwin’s first wife, Maria Crane (1787-1818). Maria does not seem to have married. She died in 1886 and the sampler descended in the family of her younger brother, Dr. William Leroy Broun (who later moved to Alabama and became president of Auburn University), to the present consignor.

PROVENANCE: Living Estate of Sally Johnson Harlan.

CONDITION: Some fading to colors and browning to linen. 2 inch area of staining lower right and a couple of light small stains along lower edge.